"When the Lord your God brings you into the
land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give
you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build,
houses
filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did
not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you
eat and are satisfied,
be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."Deut:6:10-12
As the people of Israel came near to the land Canaan that had been promised to their Fathers Abraham, Issac and Jacob by the Lord , Moses, the one who led Israel and bore with them from the slave pits of Egypt to the Red Sea crossing and the years in the Wilderness now looks out upon a land that had so many advantages prepared for them by the Lord God, yet, Moses himself would not enter in, at best he could gaze out and see from a distance the land that awaited beyond the River Jordan.
A Land Prepared
This land held so much for them and it was their's for the having.
"When the Lord your God brings you into the
land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give
you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build,
houses
filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did
not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you
eat and are satisfied,
be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."Deut:6:10-12
This land had homes and agriculture, and abundant access to fresh water. The Promised Land had an abundance of advantages all for Israel, it was a land prepared for them, the Lord only cautioned them to remember that it was Him who accomplished all this for them.
Joshua even at the end of his life recalls the same admonition to the people .
‘Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of
Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites,
Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave
them into your hands. I
sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the
two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. So
I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not
build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that
you did not plant.’ Josh:24:11-13
Israel was to remember just who it was that gave them so great a blessing and not to forget their God.
The Land of Promises
These admonishments to Israel, to walk fully within the Promised land , with their hearts always inclined toward to the Lord God , this speak to us Christians today as well. We Christians walk not in a Promised Land but rather a Land of Promises prepared for each and all who would but freely receive them.
This is the land that many of the Old Testament personalities truly sought to see, yet, like Moses could only view them from afar off as they peered down the ages beyond their time and ultimately on into Eternity, under the inspiration of the Great God.
"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." Heb:11:13-16
This "county" which they knew was out there, maybe not fully grasping how the Lord would accomplish it ,yet , they sought it and believed that in the end they would walk within this "country" .
This is the land that many of the Old Testament personalities truly sought to see, yet, like Moses could only view them from afar off as they peered down the ages beyond their time and ultimately on into Eternity, under the inspiration of the Great God.
"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." Heb:11:13-16
This "county" which they knew was out there, maybe not fully grasping how the Lord would accomplish it ,yet , they sought it and believed that in the end they would walk within this "country" .
Just Glimpses of It
From the very beginning with the promises to the Patriarchs, and the establishment of Israel , from the Priesthood and the Throne of David ,to the words of the Prophets all these things looked ahead and to the coming of Jesus, the very one who takes us and guides us to the land of Promises.
Yet all who came before us, just caught glimpses of this realty, that Jesus was and is come.They wanted to understand but never were given this blessing fully as we who are Christians. We are able to walk in the land of Salvation.
Yet all who came before us, just caught glimpses of this realty, that Jesus was and is come.They wanted to understand but never were given this blessing fully as we who are Christians. We are able to walk in the land of Salvation.
"Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was
to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care," 1Ptr:1:10
In This Life as Well
We are even now able to experience so much of what the Lord has for us, this is for us even now not just in the the eternity to come. We do not have to sit and gaze upon this land at a distance we are invited into it even now where we can walk the eternal breath of its limitless boundaries. We can clime to the hill tops and reap form the abundance of the vineyards and fields and drink from the deep wells. This truth that all that our Lord has for us is already ours and will be ours fully in the eternity to come, this is what Theologians call the Inaugurated Eschatology .
When we are led to this land of Promises , so much of it is for us even now. The Apostle Peter asking our Lord regarding the reward of being a follower of Jesus , receives an answer that encompasses this life upon the Earth and into the Kingdom.
"Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”
“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel
will
fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes,
brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with
persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first" Mk:10:28-31
This encouragement speaks to us that , even here, "in this present age" we can partake in blessings that are our's in our Lord Jesus Christ. These blessing of the promises are far more than just material, that is wealth, bricks and mortar , position, titles , or fame.
What our Lord has for each of us goes beyond the material, that is the things that will waste away. He is talking about about a relationship which is far more than we could ever hope for.
Our Lord wants each of us to walk fully in the Promises that He has for us, but above them all He wants us to know Him. All eternal life is summed up in Jesus in terms of relationship, that is knowing Him.
"Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."Jhn:17:3
What our Lord has for each of us goes beyond the material, that is the things that will waste away. He is talking about about a relationship which is far more than we could ever hope for.
Our Lord wants each of us to walk fully in the Promises that He has for us, but above them all He wants us to know Him. All eternal life is summed up in Jesus in terms of relationship, that is knowing Him.
"Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."Jhn:17:3
In and by Jesus we find more than we can even begin to understand. In Jesus we find that land of Promises opened to each and all through faith alone by grace alone in Christ alone or as it is said in the Latin
solus per gratiam per fidem in Christum,
Homes Prepared
Before the people of Israel were towns and villages with homes built for them, prepared and waiting for them to occupy and dwell with in.
"cities you did not build,
houses
filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide"
Theses dwelling were theirs. In the same way our Lord has is providing a home for all who will receive it awaiting each of us, this home is filled with eternal blessing, as the towns were for Israel.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God
; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am".Jhn:14:1-3
Jesus is, even now preparing this place for us to spend eternity in with Him, an extended community of fellowship and worship without end were we are want loved and included, this very community is pictured ultimately in the New Jerusalem that is in preparation.
" I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." Rev:21:2
The True Vine
In the cultre of that time, and in the nation of Israel, the idyllic imagery of the Promised land and the life of
Micah the Prophet was inspired to uses this image to present the people of Israel finally experiencing this long sought contentment.
"Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and
no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken."Mich:4:4
This is contentment and peace being at rest having every need of the whole person met, living without fear.
For Christian this is found in the Promises of and in Jesus Christ, the true vine that we might sit under and being at rest. It is ours and for us if we are careful not to neglect what He so freely offers us.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes
so that it will be even more fruitful.You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
Remain
in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it
must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in
me.
“I
am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you,
you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
If
you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and
withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" Jhn:15:1-8
Deep Wells
As we transverse the land of Promises in Christ we find that as we live and walk this land and set our hearts and minds upon Jesus the deep wells of the Holy Spirit , wells, which we did not dig,that is they are for us with out works, that is by grace, here through revelation about Jesus thirst is quenched
The Prophet Isaiah , looking ahead to the offering of the Holy Spirit to all who would receive Him through Jesus wrote.
The Prophet Isaiah , looking ahead to the offering of the Holy Spirit to all who would receive Him through Jesus wrote.
"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost" .Isa:55:1
Standing in the Temple courts Jesus invites us to become outlets for the eternal flow of the Holy Spirit
"but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." Jhn:4:14
The Holy Spirit will touch our lives and speak to us regarding our Lord , disclosing to us all the Promises that are found in Jesus.
But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the
truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He
hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. "All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you." Jhn:16:13-15
We are invited to enter this Land of Promises that is found in Jesus. It is land of life eternal and without bounds, but not just for some day in the eternity to come , but we can experience it in and by Jesus. Jesus came that we might have a life that is more than we can imagine.
"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."Jhn:10:10b
Even now as we walk the Earth , we are found in our Lord in the hights of Heaven in the glorified resurrected humanty of Jesus; in Jesus we share in the Kingdom that is His.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" Eph:1:3
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.' Eph:2:4-7
Yes
The Great God has offered each and all the opportunity to enter into this land of Promise, He willingly desires us to live in them and affirms them to us in His Son Jesus.
"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God" 2Corth:1:20
When we hear the call of God in message of Salvation presented in the Gospel and come to believe in Jesus, we are taking hold of promises that stretch back to the Patriarchs and joining with them to receive them.The very same ones that they embraced and shared in.
All that the Great God has for them, and we all, if we will but freely receive them and accept His love freely offered.
We need not be as Moses who viewed the Promise land but did not enter, we can instead enter and wall throughout it.
"As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable" .Rom:11:29
Our Lord has prepared this for us and it has awaited us all who will receive it from the very beginning.What we can walk in today is what all who went before long to see and understand.
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world."Matt:25:34
It is our Lords' great desire that we enter the Promises that He has affirmed to us through His Son. Jesus is the ultimate affirmation to us that God's love is to us and for us, that He invites us to enter in and walk the length, breadth and highth of all that His Son has died that we might have,to live in a vibrant relationship with our God, we can have this even now for each and all who will accept it. We enter not a Promised land but a land of Promises in His Son Jesus.Amen
Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor
The
Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike.
2101 Old National Pike.
Washington,
Pennsylvania.
www.gcfountainoflife.org
The
Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in
Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM in the Arden Fair Grounds area
of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela,
Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com
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